NORWALK, Conn. -- Despite continued high unemployment--or perhaps because of it--wine consumption in the United States grew by 3% in 2011, according to a report by the Beverage Information Group.
Consumer confidence and innovation by producers contributed to these gains, according to the report. New varietals, such as sweet reds, and higher end blends have engaged consumers. According to the Beverage Information Group’s recently released 2012 Wine Handbook, wine consumption gained 3% to reach 312.4 million 9-liter cases in 2011.
Domestic wines continued to outpace imports. The U.S. has a reputation of being a better value than its imported counterparts, so wines from California, Oregon and Washington fared well in 2011. Imports did see some pockets of success, namely wines from Italy, Argentina and Spain. Millennial consumers are also helping the imported category due to their interest in lesser known varietals and willingness to experiment.
Total wine dollar sales grew to $27.8 billion last year, with on-premise accounting for 43.8%--a 2.8% increase from 2010.
“As consumers discover new varietals, regions and price points, overall wine consumption is expected to continue to increase over the next five years,” according to Adam Rogers, senior research analyst for the Beverage Information Group based in Norwalk, Conn. “The wine industry is predicted to reach 317.3 million cases by 2012.”
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